Creating Lovers of Novelty and building duration in the crate (elective)Breeders are busy, and not every feeding will be following the same routine. This is good because we want our puppies to be very comfortable with novelty. Not only meeting novel people and going to different places, but also novelty in their daily routine, even while having enough routine to build a sleep/wake schedule and good toilet habits. These small differences in what happens at certain times is how we build adaptability.Some variation helps develop adaptability in our puppies, preparing them for all the changes that are coming their way, when they move to their new homes, pursue show or sport careers, and helps them to be able handle all that life might throw at them.Even with our little puppies, we are already working to develop puppies who are confident in the face of change. We have started our Fine Dining protocol, have been changing and expanding their weaning pen weekly, and this week, as we start working with building duration in the crate, we are going to also add some novelty to our daily routine.If you want this to be truly random download a random number generator app and install it on your smart phone, tablet, or laptop (there are many free apps available for this). I have three different meal routines presented in this Section, so set your random number generator (RNG) for 1 to 3. The RNG will give you a number, and this number will be what meal routine you choose for that day or meal. If you think of other meal routines, feel free to add those, assign each one a number, and then reset your RNG between 1 and the 4, 1 and 5, and etc.You can also choose a meal routine based on how much time you have, this is what I do, and substitute any routine that works better, I often base which routine I choose on how much time I have. Generally I’m shooting for at least 1 duration chew session per day, some days I might do two and other days none at all. But my goal is 1 per day from this week until puppies go to their new homes.I want to use the litters natural daily rhythm to my advantage. I don’t want to work on crate duration when my puppies are full of poop and fully fresh with energy. I want to take advantage of their calm and sleepy times, when all their needs for exercise, play, exploration, and voiding have been met and they are ready to lay down and sleep. But I don’t expect puppies to naturally fall asleep when closed in a crate, that’s too much for a baby dog. I do want to teach the puppies how to self soothe themselves to sleep though, and chewing/licking/gnawing are the natural ways for dogs to soothe themselves to sleep. So, to get our puppies used to the idea of staying in the crate for longer spans of time we are going to pair a tired (but not exhausted) puppy with a pleasant activity (a chew or bone) inside the crate and if all goes as expected the puppy will chew and then fall asleep. If the puppy engages with the chew we consider that success in the early days. Falling asleep is optional! So if the puppy chews and wants out, that’s fine, let them out! Just be sure to close the pacifier inside the crate (if you want to see if the puppy might want to go back in the crate), or take it up (if you have no plans to put puppy back inside the crate). I can’t stress enough that it’s ok if the puppy chews a bit and wants out. It’s ok to let them out! They are still learning and exploring what crates are about and part of that is developing trust that if they want/need out someone will attend to them. But, puppies can change their minds! So if a puppy asks out and is released don’t be in a hurry to take the chew up. If you lock it in the crate the puppy might “change their mind” and actually ask you to put them back inside, now that’s a win! How to handle pacifiers: We will only give the pacifiers inside the crate, so if the puppy wants out they are let out, but they cannot take their pacifier out of the crate with them. It takes a little bit for puppies to understand this, so be patient with them, take/trade away the pacifier, drop it back inside the crate and latch the door. If they want to go back in the crate let them back in the crate, if they try to take the pacifier out again just repeat. Dogs need the opportunity to figure things out, this process is not the dog being “bad” or contrary, it’s literally how non verbal animals figure out or verbal world. Be patient if they seem to want to hop in/out a few times! If a puppy falls asleep in the crate, stay nearby so you can let the puppy out promptly when they wake, but if time permits let the puppy enjoy a nap in the privacy of it’s own crate. You can also open the door and quietly remove the chew, so the puppy can wake and leave the crate in their own time.

Standard routine a time saving routine1.Feed puppies in crates using usual loading procedure, then release puppies.2.Offer potty break and reinforce puppies for toilet use.3.Put puppies back into the weaning pen.4.No crate duration session is done.5. Continue with Catching Puppies In The Act as time permits.

Enrichment

This routine works when I want to get a few things done before a duration session.1.Feed puppies in crate using usual loading procedure.

2.Offer potty break.

3.Enrichment time (reset weaning pen with new toys, noodle, or other passive enrichment) outside or inside the weaning pen to tire puppies out and prepare them for rest.

4.Remove bowls, place beds in crates, prepare crates for a duration session by putting your chosen pacifier inside and closing the door. When the puppies seem to be calming down...

5.Load the puppies one by one into the ready crates.

6.When a puppy is done chewing either let them out of the crate or offer a different chew. When you no longer have time to hang around near the crates just remove all the puppies at the same time.

Note: pacifiers stay inside the crate, for you to put away, puppies are not permitted to take them out to chew on in the weaning pen.

7.When the puppies leave the crates take up any pacifiers left and freeze/store/clean for future use.

Learning This is the most time intensive option

1.Have a play, learning, or other active enrichment session with each puppy either singly or as a group.

2.If it’s a mealtime place puppy in a crate and feed. (Note: If your puppies train better AFTER eating a meal, you can switch 1 and 2).

3.Offer potty break and outside walk if time/weather permit.

4.Remove bowls, place beds in crates and place a pacifier in each crate/close door.

5.Return puppy to crate, showing puppy the pacifier provided.

6.Remove each puppy when it’s done chewing and moves towards the door.

Be sure the puppy does not take a pacifier out of the crate.

Making The Most Of Your Schedule: Creating Lovers Of Novelty (optional)